The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-07-02
WOMEN IN RUSSIA.


WOMEN JN UOSSs
a P,cturp Of Russian Home Lafs IN ~
Time OF Ivan the Terrible.
Tn Mr.. Nathan Haskell Dole's recon.
lecture on the Rise of Russian Liter
ature. y he spoke of the sDomostroi, o,
Book of Domestic Management. !" writ
ten by the Pope Sylvester for the edit
cation of his only son. Anphim and hi
daughter-in-law Pelagia.
1t was composed early in the six
teenth century, during the reign of lvar
the Terrible, and throws curious light
on Russian society at that time.
For many years it was the universe
pade mecum of household duties. II
may interest some of the women Of
Philadelphia who did not hear Mr..
Dole's lecture to see what the old priest
laid down as law for the treatment and
behavior of their sisters three centuries
and half ago. Mr.. Dole's translation
was as follows:
She must go to church as often a.
possible and consult with her husband.
Husbands must teach their wives with
love and reasonable punishment. II
the wife live not according to her hus-
bands teaching then the husband must
punish her alone by themselves, and
after he has punished her he must for
give her and give further advice; but
they must not be angry with one an
| other.
Servants and children must be pun
! ished according to their guilt. and
wounds must be inflicted, but after the
punishment forgive the sin. But the
| mistress of tho house must look after
the servants as to what is fitting for the
same. But when it is necessary to rep.
rehend your wife, your son or your
daughter, or to punish them by laying
on the whip, punish them not before
people, but alone. Strike them not or
the ear or in the face or on the heaf
with the fist. nor kick them or STRIKE
them with the staff, either of iron or o
wood. But if the sin be great, then
stripping off the garment, apply alittl'
whip discreetly. holding the hands
Wives must ask their husbands abou
all holy teaching, and be subject t.
them in all things.
Every day the husband and wit
should question each other and tax
counsel about the whole conduct of tn
house. She must have acquaintanc
only with those whom her husban
commands. She may converse wit
guests about her handiwork and abou
household management, and listen whe
she sees that it is good, What she doe
not know she may ask modestly. What
ever any one commands she must ''bes
the forehead humbly, and when sh
: goes forth from the house she must te
all things to her husband
: She may meet socially with goo
women not for eating and drinking
: but for good conversation and know
: edge; she must take care of her appeal
ance and not indulge in laughter an
not gossip; if any one asks her abo'
any thing she must reply: "lknow no
have heard nothing about it, and |
r for me, l ask not about unnecessaI
D things and do not talk about prince
:, and boyars and my neighbors." In n
9 wise indulge in drunkenness; woms
: may drink beer. KvGs. both at hon
J, and abroad, but she must not eat al
Q drink secretly away from her husban
o the wise woman does not entertain Z
r stranger without her husbands PR
+ ence. In regard to all things cons'
9 with the husband and not with the sla
l. and not with the serf. -Philadelph
" Cnu